Patient Planning and Initiative Enhances Physician Recommendations for Cancer Screening and Prevention

The growing population of older adults is at the highest risk for cancer, yet they are underserved in terms of cancer prevention and care. Discussions between patients and physicians that result in tailored recommendations are now called for by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

The current study explored the role of physician-patient relationships and of patient initiatives in health communication on primary care physicians' recommendations of cancer prevention and screening. Our data was collected from baseline questionnaires from elderly patients 60 years of age or older (N=360) who attended an adult community center where an educational intervention was administered.

Our findings demonstrate the importance of elderly patients' advocacy, shown through planning and initiative in communication for eliciting doctor's cancer screening and cancer prevention recommendations in primary care settings.